Rotor brake



Feb. 9, 1943. c. E. TACK Em 2,310,266

. ROTOR BRAKE Filed Dec. 30 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORE W z i BY 4 e5 8y e 5 :72!

Feb. 9, 1943. c. E. TACK Erm.

ROTOR BRAKE Filed Dec. :50, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 ROTOR BRAKE Carl E. Tack and Wesley A. Helsten, Chicago, 111., assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 30, 1940, Serial No. 372,366

26 Claims.

Our invention relates to a brake arrangement for a railway car truck and more specifically to such an arrangement of so-called rotor type wherein the braking surfaces are in the form of discs or rotors and may be used independently of or in conjunction with brakes of a more common type which comprise brake shoes for engagement with the peripheral surfaces of the wheels.

An object of our invention is to devise a rotor brake arrangement for a railway car truck utilizing roller bearing wheel and axle assemblies and comprising an inner rotating axle on which the wheels may be mounted and an outer nonrotating axle on which may be carried a pedestal block as a usual means of support for a truck frame. In the modification shown, the truck is of inboard type with the pedestal blocks supported on the wheel and axle assembly inboard the wheels.

A specific object of our invention is to devise a rotor braking arrangement such as described wherein the braking forces developed and the reactions thereto are self-contained; that is to say, no such forces and reactions due to braking are transferred into the frame or wheel except those of torque.

Our invention comprehends such an arrangement as that described wherein each pedestal block is formed as an integral casting with a member serving as a cylinder support or carrier and on said carrier may, likewise, be mounted stator braking surfaces, one of which may be supported at each side 'of a rotor which is mounted on the wheel. Upon the said carrier may also be supported a ring type piston which operates in conjunction with the ring type cylinder.

Our invention contemplates such an arrangement as that described wherein the frame member may be carried upon the pedestal block and cylinder carrier casting through the medium of resilient members or rubber pads, and in the arrangement shown, the combination cylinder carrier and pedestal block is formed in two pieces in order to facilitate its application or removal.

A different object of our invention is to so support a ring piston and ring cylinder from such a pedestal casting as that described that each may be free to move axially of the wheel and axle assembly within prescribed limits as the brakes are applied and released. In the arrangement shown, the cylinder and piston move axially away from each other as the brakes are applied and normally return toward each othe to the released position as the brakes are released.

Our invention contemplates an arrangement wherein a plurality of such wheel and axle assemblies as that described may be used in a railway car truck with braking means of the type described at each end of each wheel and axle assembly.

Figure 1 is a sectional View through a wheel and axle assembly embodying our invention, the section being taken in the radial plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1, partly in section, the section being taken substantially in the vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a further sectional view through the wheel and axle assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the section being taken substantially in the vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a railway car truck embodying our invention, only one-half of the truck being shown inasmuch as the arrangement is similar at opposite sides thereof, and Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the truck and brake structure shown in Figure 4.

In each of the above figures, certain features may be omitted where they are more clearly shown in other views.

Describing the structure in detail, our novel brake arrangement is shown as applied to a roller bearing wheel and axle assembly comprising the inner rotating axle 2 upon the extremity of which may be press-fitted the wheel hub 4 and around which may be antifrictionally supported the outer axle B through the medium of the roller bearing generally indicated at 8. The said roller bearing comprises an inner race It) press-fitted as at I2 on the outer axle 6, an outer race l4 press-fitted within the wheel hub G in abutment as at 16 with a shoulder formed thereon, together with a series of rollers l8, l8 normally held in spaced relationship by the cage 20. A bearing cavity 28 is defined by the cover plate 22 having the annular flange 24 closely surrounding an adjacent portion of the outer axle 6 to serve in conjunction with the snap ring 26 as an oil seal for the bearing cavity.

Adjacent the antifriction bearing, the outer axle 6 is formed with a seat 30 defined by the annular shoulder 32, said seat afiording positioning means for the pedestal block and cylinder carrier casting 34, said casting being split as at 36 centrally of said seat to facilitate its application and removal. The inboard and outboard halves of said pedestal casting may be formed with downwardly extending lugs 38 and 40 which may be secured together on opposite sides of the axle by the tie strap 42 and the securing bolts 44, 44.

superposed as at 46 on the pedestal block 34 is a resilient pad 48 comprising the bottom wear plate 50, the rubber pad 52 and the top wear plate 54, and on the pad 48 may be carried as at 56 the frame member 58, said frame member comprising the pedestal jaws 59 and 60 (Fig ure 5) engaging opposite sides of the pedestal block. On each side of the axle between the pedestal jaws 59 and 60 and the pedestal casting 34 may be positioned the resilient pads 6|, 6|, said pads being similar in construction to the top resilient pad 43 previously described and serving to permit some slight longitudinal play between the wheel and axle assembly and the supported frame.

On the outer perimeter of the wheel hub 4 may be press-fitted as at 62 the wheel 64 in abutment with the shoulder 65 formed at the inboard edge of said outer perimeter. The cover plate 22 is held in position against the inboard face of the wheel hub 4 by the series of securing bolts 68, 68, and said securing bolts also form retaining means for the rotor 10 which is thus fixed upon the wheel to rotate therewith in a plane spaced from the inboard face of the wheel.

The pedestal block 34 comprises an outboard radial flange I2 merging at its outer perimeter with the integral annular flange I4 on the outer perimeter of which may be positioned a plurality of arcuate rubber pads 16, 76, each of said pads comprising a rubber block, arcuate in form and rectangular in section, on the opposite faces of which may be vulcanized metal plates 2'8, I8 as ameans of seating said pads between the flange I4 of the carrier casting and the ring cylinder 8ll'which is supported thereby. Similarly, a series of like rubber pads 82, 82 are mounted along the outboard edge of the flange I4 as support means for the ring piston 84, said pads 82 being constructed similarly to the pads I6 previously described. On the flange are also formed a plurality of upstanding lugs 86, 86 on opposite sides of which the pads I6 and 82 may be fixed by means of the securing bolts 88, 88. The pads 76 and 82 are mounted under shear stress in such manner that they are constantly urging toward each other the cylinder 80 and the piston 84, and the form of this stress is indicated by the oppositely flaring character of the pads I6 and 82 as indicated in the sectional view of Figure 1. It will be noted that the outboard annular edge of each pad abuts as at 90 against an annular flange formed on the inner perimeter of the cylinder and, likewise, the edges of the wear plates. on the outer faces of the pads 82 are flanged over as at 92 to bear against the inner perimeter of the piston 84, thus urging it into the cylinder toward its normal released position. It will thus be seen that when compressed air or other actuating means is forced into the cylinder cavity 94 the piston will be actuated in an outboard direction and the cylinder will react in an inboard direction, thus further flexing the support and release pads 16 and 82 and, in this manner, said pads 76 and 82 act as release means for the cylinder and piston upon release of the brakes.

By the arrangement just described, it will be clear to those in the art that the forces developed by the braking power means or ring cylinders and the reactions thereto are self-contained; that is, such forces and reactions which are due to the power developed in said cylinders are not transferred into the frame or into the wheel except the forces of the torque which may be developed thereby.

Upon the outboard face of the piston 84 is mounted a series of stator braking surfaces 95, 9B (Figure 2) spaced to accommodate circulation of a cooling medium therebetween. Said stator surfaces 96, 96 may engage the inboard face of the rotor f6, and the outboard face of said rotor may be engaged by the spaced braking surfaces 98. 93 mounted on the stator 99, said stator being carried on the cylinder casting and secured thereto as as H13, H30 by a series of bolts secured through the lugs H12, I 02 projecting from the outer perimeter of said casting.

Torque from the piston is taken in the cylinder casting by means of spaced radial flanges I04, I04 formed on the outer perimeter of the piston (Figure 2) and received in transverse slots formed for that purpose in the beforementioned lugs I02, IE2 on the outer perimeter of the cylinder casting.

At the top of the cylinder casting is formed the integral torque bracket 38, at the extremity of which may be formed the eye I58 for connection with the torque rod I I 0, said connection being made in well-known manner to prevent slight play under compression or tension by means of the rubber pads H2, H2 mounted at either side of said torque bracket I55.

The general form and arrangement of the truck to which we have shown our novel brake arrangement applied is shown in reduced size in Figures 4 and 5 wherein it may be noted that the truck comprises spaced wheel and axle assemblies H4. H4 on which may be supported the side frame member 58 through the medium of pedestal jaws 59 and 60 as already described. As shown, the truck frame is a composite built-up structure comprising the transverse frame members H6, I I6 at opposite ends of the frame and the diagonal struts H8, H8 together with the transverse load carrying member IE9 at each end of which may be formed a side bearing I22. Adjacent the end of each side frame 58 may be mounted a torque bracket I24 to which may be connected as at I26 one end of the torque rod I I0 already referred to.

In operation, actuation of the power means in the form of the ring cylinder 80 with its associated ring piston 84 will cause the piston to move in an outboard direction and the cylinder to move in an inboard direction, thus flexing the supporting pads I6 and 82 as the braking surfaces 536 and 98 are brought into engagement with opposite sides of the rotor f6. As the power is released, the cylinder and piston are returned to normal position by means of the support and release pads I6 and 82, and the stators are thus freed from engagement with the rotor.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe claims.

We claim:

1. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly having a wheel at the end thereof, a pedestal block supported on said assembly inboard said wheel, a rotor carried on the inboard face of said wheel, a cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable in said cylinder, andstators supported from' said cylinder and said piston at opposite sides of said rotor for engagement therewith, said piston being resiliently supported from said block, the resilient supports of said piston and said cylinder being under reverse stress with respect to each other to urge said cylinder and said piston into normal relationship with each other, said resilient supports serving as release means respectively for said piston and said cylinder casting upon release of the brakes.

2. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly having a wheel at the end thereof, a pedestal block supported on said assembly inboard said wheel, a rotor carried on the inboard face of said wheel, a cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable in said cylinder, and stators supported from said cylinder and said piston at opposite sides of said rotor for engagement therewith, said piston being resiliently supported from said block, the resilient supports of said piston and said castingbeing under reverse stress with respect to each other to urge said cylinder casting and said 'piston'into normal relationship with each other.

3. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, spaced wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an outer nonrotating axle, pedestal blocks supported on said axles adjacent the wheels, a frame resiliently supported on said blocks, braking means comprising rotors and stators supported respectively from said wheels and said blocks at each end of each assembly, each of said braking means comprising spaced resilient means mounted on the adjacent .block, a ring cylinder and a ring piston independently mounted on said resilient means and urged into normal relative positions thereby, said'resilient means affording release means forsaid piston and cylinder after actuation of said braking means, each of said cylinder supporting resilient means comprising an arcuate pad of rubber composition having a face fixed to said .block and an opposed face fixed to said cylinder.

4. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, spaced wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an outer nonrotating axle, pedestal blocks supported on said axles adjacent ,the wheels, a frame resiliently supported on saidassemblies through the medium of pedestal jaws engaging said blocks, braking means comprising rotors and stators supported respectively from said wheels and said blocks at each end of the assembly, each of said braking means comprising spaced resilient means mounted on the adjacent block, and a cylinder and a piston independently mounted on said resilient means and urged into normal relative positions thereby, each of said piston supporting resilient means comprising an arcuate rubber pad having a face secured to said block and an opposed face secured to said piston.

5. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having awheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, a pedestal block supportedon said outer axle inboard \said wheel, and braking means mounted between said wheel and said block and comprising arotor supported from said wheel, a ring cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable therein, and a plurality of stators supported respectively from said piston and said cylinder at opposite sides of said rotor for braking engagement therewith, said piston being resiliently supported from said block independently of the resilient support for said cylinder, the resilient support for said cylinder and piston being similar and each comprising a plurality of arcuate blocks of rubber compositionhaving a face fixed to said block and an opposed face affording support means.

6. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a wheel and axle assembly, a pedestal block supported onsaid assembly adjacent the wheel, a frame member supported fromsaid block and comprising a pedestal jaw embracing said block, and braking means comprising a rotor and a stator supported respectively from said wheel and said block, a ring cylinder resiliently supported on said block, and a ring piston resiliently supported on said block independently of said cylinder and operable therein.

'7. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner axle, a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings betweensaid axles, a pedestal block supported on said outer axle, and braking means between said block and said wheel comprising a rotor carried on said wheel, a cylinder mounted on said block, a ring piston operable therein, and stators supported from said cylinder and said piston for engagement with opposite faces of said rotor, said'piston and said cylinder being movable in reverse directions as said brakes are applied.

8. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, a pedestal block on said outer axle inboard said wheel, said pedestal block having an annular flange, resilient members positioned on said flange, and a cylinder and a piston independently supported on said resiilent members, said resilient members supporting respectively said piston and-said cylinder being mounted under shear stress in reverse directions to urge said cylinder and piston into normal engagement with each other.

9.In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, spaced wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an outer nonrotating axle, pedestal 'bllocks supported on said axles adjacent the wheels, a frame resiliently supported on said aspiston therein also resiliently mounted at spaced areas around the periphery of said block, the 1 support of said cylinder and piston at each of said spaced areas being in the form of a pad of resilient material having a face secured to said block and an opposed face affording a mounting surface.

10. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, spaced wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an outer nonrotating axle, pedestal blocks supported on said axles adjacent the wheels, a-frame resiliently supported on said -assembliesthrough the medium. of pedestal jaws engaging said blocks, braking means comprising rotors and stators supported respectivelyfrom said wheelsand said blocks ateach end of each assembly, each of said braking means comprising a ring cylinder resiliently supported from the adjacent block, and a. ring piston operable therein, each of said cylinders andpistons being independently supported at a series of spaced areas about the periphery of the adjacent block, the support at each area comprising a pad of resilient material having a face secured to said lastmentioned block and an. opposed face forming a supporting surface.

11. In a brake arrangement fora railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having'a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, a pedestal block supported'on said outer axle inboard said wheel, and braking means mounted between said wheel and said block and comprising a rotor supported from said wheel, a ring cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable therein, a plurality of stators supported respectively from said piston and said cylinder at opposite sides of said rotor for braking engagement therewith, and

-'-torque lugs on said piston having slidable-engagement in slots in said cylinder.

'12. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, aipedestal block supported on said outer axle inboard said wheel, and braking means mounted between said wheel and said blockand comprising a rotor supported from said wheel, a ring cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable therein, a plurality of stators supported respectively from said piston and said cylinder at opposite sides of said rotor for braking engagement therewith, release means for said piston and said cylinder, and interengaging means on said piston and said cylinder afiording transfer of torque therebetween.

' 13. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner axle, a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, apedestal block supported on said outer axle, and braking means between said block and said wheel comprising a rotor carried on said wheel, a cylinder carrier mounted on said block,

' a cylinder supported on said carrier, a piston operable therein, stators supported from said cylinder and said piston for engagement with opposite faces of said rotor, and torque lugs on said piston slidably engaged with slots on said cylinder for transfer of torque therebetween.

14. In a brake arrangement, 'awheel and axle assembly having a wheel at the end thereof, a pedestal block supported on. said assembly inboard said wheel, a rotor carried on the inboard face of said wheel, a cylinder supported from said block, a ring piston operable in said cylinder, and stators supported from said cylinderand said piston at opposite sides of said rotor for engagement therewith, said block comprising a cylindrical annular flange affording support for said cylinder and piston, the support for said cylinder comprising a plurality of resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange and fixed respectively to said flange and said cylinder, and the support for said piston comprising a plurality of resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange, the pads-supporting said cylinder and piston respectively being reversely stressed to maintain said cylinder and piston in normal position with respect to each other.

15. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly having a wheel at the end thereof, a pedestal block supported on said assembly inboard said wheel, a rotor carried on the inboard face of said wheel, a cylinder resiliently supported from said block, a ring piston operable in said cylinder, and stators supported from said cylinder and said piston at opposite sides of said rotor for engagement therewith, said piston being resiliently supported from said block, the support means for said cylinder and said piston each comprising a plurality of flexible rubber pads, and the pads supporting said cylinder and said piston respectively being mounted under reversed stress to maintain said piston and cylinder in normal position with respect to each other.

16. In a brake'arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly having a wheel at an end thereof, a pedestal block supported on said assemblyinboard said wheel, a rotor supported on said wheel inboard thereof, a ring cylinder supported from said block, a ring piston operable therein, inboard and outboard stators supported respectively from said cylinder and said piston for engagement with opposite sides of said rotor, and torque lugs on said piston having slidable engagement in slots in said cylinder.

17. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly having a wheel at an end thereof, a pedestal block supported on said assembly inboard said wheel, a rotor supported on said wheel inboard thereof, a ring cylinder supported from said block, a ring piston operable therein, and inboard and outboard stators supported respectively from said cylinder and said piston for engagement with opposite sides of said rotor, the support for said cylinder comprising a cylindrical flange integral with said block and a plurality of resilient pads vulcanized at spaced areas between said flange and said cylinder.

18. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel thereon,an outer axle, bearings between said axles, a pedestal block on said outer axle inboard said wheel, said pedestal block having an annular flange, spaced resilient members positioned on said flange, and a cylinder and a piston independently supported on said resilient members, the resilient members supporting respectively said piston and said cylinder being reversely stressed to urge said piston into said cylinder, said pads operating as release means for said cylinder and piston after actuation thereof.

'19. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, spaced wheel and axle assemblies each comprising an outer nonrotating axle, pedestal blocks, supported on said axles adjacent the wheels, a frame resiliently supported on said assemblies through the medium of pedestal jaws engaging said blocks, and braking means comprising rotors and stators supported respectively from said wheels and said blocks at each end of each assembly, each of said pedestal blocks comprising an outboard annular flange of cylindrical form and the support thereon for the associated braking means comprising a plurality of sets of reversely stressed resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange and afiording support for certain of said braking means.

20. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, a pedestal block on said outer axle inboard said wheel, said pedestal block having an annular flange, spaced resilient means positioned on said flange, a ring cylinder supported on said resilient means, and spaced resilient members fixed on said flange and affording support for a ring piston operable in said ring cylinder, said resilient means and members being positioned in oppositely stressed pairs about the periphery of said flange.

21. In a brake arrangement for a railway wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel thereon, an outer axle, bearings between said axles, and a pedestal block on said outer axle inboard said wheel, said pedestal block having an annular flange aifording independent seats for an associated cylinder member, and a ring piston operable therein, the support for said cylinder member comprising a plurality of flexible means normally flexed in an inboard direction.

22. In a brake arrangement, a wheel and axle assembly comprising a Wheel at an end thereof, a pedestal block carried on said assembly inboard said wheel and comprising an outboard annular flange, a rotor supported from said wheel inboard thereof, resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange and affording independent support for a ring cylinder and a ring piston mounted therearound, and stators supported respectively from said cylinder and piston for engagement with said rotor, the resilient pads supporting said cylinder and piston being arranged in sets about the periphery of said flange and reversely stressed with respect to each other.

23. In a brake arrangement for a wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel, an outer axle supporting a pedestal block having an outboard cylindrical flange, a rotor on said wheel, spaced resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange and affording independent support for a ring cylinder and a ring piston mounted therearound, and stators supported on said cylinder and piston respectively for engagement with said rotor, the resilient pads affording support for said piston being normally flexed in an outboard direction.

24. In a brake arrangement for a Wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel, an outer axle supporting a pedestal block having an outboard cylindrical flange, a rotor on said wheel, spaced resilient pads fixed about the periphery of said flange and affording independent support for a ring cylinder and a ring piston mounted therearound, and stators supported on said cylinder and piston respectively for engagement with said rotor, the resilient pads affording support for said piston being normally flexed in an outboard direction and the resilient pads supporting said cylinder being normally flexed in an inboard direction.

25. In a brake arrangement for a wheel and axle assembly, an inner axle having a wheel, an outer axle supporting a pedestal block having an outboard cylindrical flange, a rotor on said wheel, spaced resilient pads affording independent support for a ring cylinder and a ring piston mounted therearound, and stators supported on said cylinder and piston respectively for engagement with said rotor, the resilient pads supporting respectively said cylinder and piston being mounted in opposed sets about the periphery of said flange and reversely stressed.

26. In a brake arrangement, a frame member, a supporting wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner axle, a wheel thereon, an outer axle, a pedestal block supported thereon, and braking means between said block and said wheel comprising a rotor carried on said wheel, a cylinder supported from said block, a piston operable therein, a stator supported from said piston for engagement with said rotor, means connecting said cylinder to said frame member and affording transmission of torque therebetween, and means on said piston and said cylinder affording transfer of torque therebetween.

CARL E. TACK. WESLEY A. HELSTEN. 

